action dans la cité

English translation: (here) involvement in the community

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Explanation:I'm not sure how this, erm, fits with lingerie (the mind doth truly boggle!). I often translate "cité" as "the community", but perhaps "daily life" would be more appropriate here. I'm thinking this must be sensible undies and not Victoria's Secret... and that I'm going to stop commenting while the stopping's good!

Hi. The last part of the sentence "ses relations avec les salariés" makes it clear that it's the company. I think community action / involvement is OK. The upmarket version would be 'corporate social responsibility' (or action)

Amazing what the mention of lingerie can spark off... I like the idea about community action, but have no guarantee that this is what is being referred to. Unfortunately I have no further clues in the context. I was thinking role in society, but this seems a bit of a cop out, given that it may be more specific. Re Bourth's query, I had assumed that the "son" referred to the company, as opposed to "la femme". Here is the full context for your perusal...
"XXXX contribue au bien-être et au respect de la femme, au travers de son métier, de son action dans la cité, et de ses relations avec les salariés."
Sorry, nothing more to go on re violent neighbourhoods (or the significance of underwear) - it's a short translation!

"Cité" has a far broader meaning than a US "project". "La vie dans la cité" can just mean "citizenship" and unless the context says anything about "banlieues", that's how it should undoubtedly be understood.

by appealing to their line of work and participation in city/urban life

Explanation:Hello,

It's not overly clear...that's for sure.

I think that they mean "her participation in urban/city life" when it refers to "action dans la cité." This lingerie company believes that it is contributing to women's well-being as well as helping them to be better respected in society through their line of work and participation in city life. I think that that "through" is meant to mean "by appealing to their job and participation in city life."

Explanation:to say that "respect" alongside "femme" and "cité" is a non sequitur in the mouths of many people in the "projects", and that therefore "cité" may well be these (sub)urban* high-rise housing estates, where possibly the company is running a campaign to inform people that wearing sexy underwear does not make people willing victims of a gang bang in the cellars.

*Apparently the first (newsworthy / recorded / penalized ? ) "tournante" took place in the Cité des Eiders, in inner Paris (intra muros, in the 19th arrondissement), just up the road from my Paris flat.

Maybe we should proselytize homosexuality in the "cités". I don't know how true it is, but it used to be said that in Arab circles (in Arab countries - and before the integrists hit the streets) it was usual for young men to "assouvir leurs pulsions" amongst themselves. Which is why Rimbaud (was it?) spent time in North Africa and Donald Maclean, of Burgess and Philby fame, is famously said to have got himself into trouble during a diplomatic stint in Cairo not through his acts but by singing "Young boys are cheap today, cheaper than yesterday" in public, again, not because of the lyrics as such, but probably because it was true.

Explanation:I'm not sure how this, erm, fits with lingerie (the mind doth truly boggle!). I often translate "cité" as "the community", but perhaps "daily life" would be more appropriate here. I'm thinking this must be sensible undies and not Victoria's Secret... and that I'm going to stop commenting while the stopping's good!

After deliberating over all these very useful suggestions, I went for "involvement in the community".
Thanks to all.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

juliebarba: A possibility. Do you mean the type that would require the fire brigage to break in or out of it? I presume it's the company (not the wear) that is donating cash or something....\ agree CSR or a variation of that